Poll: Most Americans tolerate snoring, don't seek solution

Even though snoring interrupts the sleeping capability the vast majority of people who listen to it each night, most say that they don't do much about it in order to get a better night's rest, according to recent polling data.

The survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of medical product supplier and manufacturer ResMed, revealed that of the more than 1,900 adults 30 years of age and older who were polled, 85 percent said that they didn't get much sleep whenever their spouse snored at night. Yet despite this, nearly two-thirds said that they wound up staying put, tolerating the noise instead of leaving the room or taking some other type of action that solved the problem.

Adam Benjafield, vice president of medical affairs for ResMed, noted that he's come across a number of people who have essentially given up on ensuring they get quality sleep.

"I'm always surprised at how many have permanently adapted to feeling tired rather than seeking help," said Benjafield.

He added that often times, the solution to the problem may be found by seeking advice from their primary care physician or sleep health expert, who may ask them questions that can help them better understand the problem.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, snoring affects approximately 90 million American adults, or about 30 percent of the U.S. population. Of these, snoring is a regular occurrence among 37 million Americans.

How to stop snoring Some people may snore but not realize that they do it. Typically, there are symptoms associated with it. NSF notes that classic signs are being extremely sleepy in the daytime despite getting seven to eight hours of rest, awaking with a headache, gaining weight for unknown reasons, and finding it difficult to concentrate on daily tasks at home or at work.

Though there are various strategies that can help men and women stop storing, it may be best to seek advice from a trained professional, who will perform a sleep test in order to determine whether the snoring is only a minor issue or if it results from a more debilitating condition, such as sleep apnea.

NSF points out that the treatment recommended will depend on what's diagnosed. But as a general rule, treatment possibilities may include some type of lifestyle modification, such as going to bed at a different time, sleeping in an alternative position or getting rid of something in the house that the snorer may be allergic to.

There's also a possibility that the snoring may require surgery for the issue to be resolved fully. NSF says that under these scenarios, the procedure is usually done on the back of the throat or the roof of the mouth using various surgical tools.

Something else that may help snorers is by using appliances or mouth guards that open up airflow. Whether it's a nasal dilator or some other type of oral appliance, sleep professionals may work with the snoring sufferer's dentist in order to produce an appliance they may need to be used nightly or only for a brief period of time.

Though it may seem hard to believe, lack of sleep has an impact on health insurance rates, as it increases individuals' susceptibility to disease. For example, studies show that sleep deprivation dramatically raises the possibility of being diagnosed with heart disease, which is the leading cause of death among men and women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It also has an impact on obesity levels. The American Medical Association recently classified obesity as a disease, which health experts say opens up the possibility of policyholders being able to use their coverage for weight-related conditions.